GOOD Music

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GOOD Music
G.O.O.D. Music logo.png
Parent companyMascotte Holdings
FoundedMarch 16, 2004;20 years ago (March 16, 2004)
Founder Kanye West
StatusActive
Distributor(s)
GenreVarious, with a focus on hip hop and R&B
Country of origin United States
Location New York City, New York
Chicago, Illinois

GOOD Music (often stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams [1] ) is an American independent record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label entered an exclusive long-term worldwide distribution contract with the Island Def Jam Music Group in 2011. [2] In 2012, the label released its only compilation album, Cruel Summer . In 2015, Pusha T was appointed president of the label by West, while record executive Steven Victor was appointed chief operating officer (COO). [3] [4] In late 2022, Pusha T stepped down from the position as he was no longer on speaking terms with West.

Contents

The label has released two number-one US Billboard Hot 100 singles—"All of Me" by John Legend, and "Panda" by Desiigner—as well as nine number-one US Billboard 200 albums— Finding Forever (2007) by Common; Dark Sky Paradise (2015), I Decided (2017), and Detroit 2 (2020) by Big Sean; The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), and Donda (2021) by Kanye West; and It's Almost Dry (2022) by Pusha T. Due to the expiration of West's recording contract with Def Jam, the latter album served as the label's second-to-final release, ultimately closed by You Can't Kill Me (2022) by 070 Shake. [5]

History

Prior efforts

In 2001, West established a company to forward revenue cuts for his expanding production work. Known at the time as Konman Productions (or Konman Entertainment), [6] it was joined by local talent including Devo Harris, BoogzDaBeast, Brian "All Day" Miller, Arrowstar, GLC, Mikkey Halsted, and Really Doe, among others. Many members of the company have since contributed to West's following projects or sign to what would become known as GOOD Music. [7] : 20  Select members of the company, including West, contributed to a bootleg compilation project titled World Record Holders under the recording outfit "Go Getters" in 1999. [8] [9]

2004–2007

Kanye West, founder of GOOD Music Kanye West at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg
Kanye West, founder of GOOD Music

GOOD Music was founded in 2004 by Kanye West in a joint venture with Sony BMG, shortly after the release of his debut album The College Dropout . Ohio singer John Legend and fellow Chicago rapper Common were the label's initial artists, along with West himself. [10] Legend's Get Lifted (2004) was the label's first album release and quickly led both the artist and label to commercial success. The album won three awards from eight nominations at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, and was supported by the Best Male R&B Performance recipient "Ordinary People", which also peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. [11] In October 2006, Legend released his second album, Once Again , which won Legend his second consecutive Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance with its single "Heaven". [12]

Common's Be (2005), the label's second release, was the recipient of four Grammy Award nominations. During this time, Chicago-based recording artists GLC, Really Doe, Consequence, and Malik Yusef, as well as West's familial relative Tony Williams were added to its roster. [13] West's second studio album, Late Registration , included guest appearances by each of the label's artists by the time of its August 2005 release. [14] In 2005, West met then-unknown rapper Sean "Big Sean" Anderson before a radio interview. After performing a freestyle, he left West with a demo tape, [15] and in May 2007, Big Sean was signed to the label. [16] In an August 2007 interview with Billboard , West expressed regrets over starting the label:

Running a record label was the biggest mistake I ever made. I never asked to be a label owner. Sony offered it to me, and I took it. But I can't be there when people are calling me to the studio to hear some music or approve clothes for a video. No disrespect to anybody, my focus is [on] Graduation, I've got a hard enough time calling radio programmers and getting them to play "Can't Tell Me Nothing", a song that's connecting with people but that's only at 1,400 spins.

— Kanye West, Billboard [17]

2008–2011

In 2008, British singer-songwriter Mr Hudson was signed, following the release of his debut A Tale of Two Cities (2007). There followed Kid Cudi, and manager Plain Pat. [18] [19] Kid Cudi's debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day was released under GOOD Music on September 15, 2009. The album earned three Grammy nominations and was certified Gold by the RIAA. [20] A month later, Mr Hudson's major label debut, Straight No Chaser , was released. [21]

Big Sean signed to the label in 2007. Big Sean 2015.jpg
Big Sean signed to the label in 2007.

In late 2010, West released several tracks featuring himself, and others members of the GOOD Music roster, in a free weekly giveaway known as, G.O.O.D. Fridays. [22] In September 2010, Brooklyn rapper Mos Def was signed. [23] Shortly afterwards Consequence released a diss track and left the label. [24] The following month Pusha T announced his signing to the label. [25] Late in 2010, Kid Cudi released his second studio album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager , followed by West's fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy . [26] [27] West, Pusha T, Big Sean, Common and Cyhi the Prynce took part in a cypher at the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards. [28]

In April 2011, West signed American rapper and producer Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. [29] Kanye West also signed producer Hit-Boy, to Very Good Beats. [30] In 2011, West signed Nigerian artists D'banj and Don Jazzy. [31] In June 2011, GOOD Music signed their first distribution agreement, with Def Jam Recordings. [32] [33] Big Sean's debut Finally Famous was the first album released by GOOD Music with distribution by Def Jam.

2012–2017

In 2015, Pusha T was appointed as the President of the label. Pusha T 2013.jpg
In 2015, Pusha T was appointed as the President of the label.

In late 2011, plans were announced for a release of a compilation album, later entitled Cruel Summer . [34] The album's lead single "Mercy", was released on April 6, 2012, and features verses from Kanye West, Pusha T and Big Sean, as well as GOOD Music affiliate 2 Chainz. [35] The album was also preceded by the singles "New God Flow" and "Clique", the latter of which peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It features West and Big Sean rapping alongside Jay-Z. [36] Cruel Summer was released on September 18, 2012. It was accompanied by the eponymous short film Cruel Summer, which was shot in Qatar; the film premiered at Cannes Film Festival. [37]

In January 2013, Scottish record producer and DJ Hudson Mohawke, announced that he had signed to the production arm of GOOD Music — Very Good Beats. [38] On April 2, 2013, Kid Cudi announced on Power 106 that he was no longer with the label, leaving on amicable terms. Cudi felt he was "underused" and would have preferred to record something particular for Yeezus (2013). [39] On June 29, 2013, producer Hit-Boy of Very Good Beats announced that his contract expired and that he was no longer signed to GOOD Music. [40] American Apparel model Kacy Hill was signed to the label December 2014, after appearing as a backup dancer on West's Yeezus Tour. [41] In March 2015, GOOD Music signed HXLT. [42]

In November 2015, West appointed Pusha T the president of GOOD Music, while record executive Steven Victor was appointed COO. [3] [4] In January 2016, Mos Def retired from music announcing it in a freestyle released in conjunction with West's G.O.O.D. Fridays series. [43] On June 3, 2016, Kanye West announced GOOD Music's upcoming album, Cruel Winter, in an interview with Big Boy. [44]

On September 7, 2016, West announced that former Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records artist Tyga, signed a record deal with GOOD Music. Despite this, Tyga's only release with the label would be his 2017 single "Feel Me" in a joint venture with Interscope Records. [45] [46] [47] Later that day, Pusha T announced Atlanta-based rap trio Migos had signed a management deal with the label. [46] However, in January 2017, Migos clarified that although there were discussions for a management deal, nothing had come to fruition. [48] On September 9, 2016, the official GOOD Music Twitter account uploaded an image of an updated artist roster with the caption "THIS IS GOOD MUSIC". [49] The image indicated that several artists had either left or been removed by the label, including D'banj, Malik Yusef, Ryan McDermott, and Mr Hudson. Later that month, in a radio interview with The Breakfast Club , John Legend announced that his fifth studio album, Darkness and Light , would be his last with GOOD Music. [50]

GOOD was advertised as one of the headlining acts of the ill-fated Fyre Festival in 2017; however, the exact member(s) of the label that were to perform were never established. [51]

In May 2017, Pusha T signed Francis and the Lights to GOOD Music. In February 2018, Pusha T followed up by signing Valee with GOOD Music as well. [52]

2018–present

In 2018, West revealed he would produce upcoming albums by GOOD Music label-mates Pusha T and Teyana Taylor, as well as Nas. [53] Pusha T's Daytona , "the first project out of Wyoming", was released in May to critical acclaim, although the album's artwork—a photograph of deceased singer Whitney Houston's bathroom that West paid $85,000 to license—attracted some controversy. [54] The following week, West released his eighth studio album, Ye . West has suggested that he scrapped the original recordings of the album and re-recorded it within a month. [55] The week after, West released a collaborative album with former GOOD Music artist Kid Cudi, titled Kids See Ghosts , named after their group of the same name. West also completed production work on Nas' Nasir [56] and Teyana Taylor's K.T.S.E. , which were released in June 2018. [57]

On October 29, 2021, Big Sean announced on Twitter that after 14 years, he has stepped away from Kanye West's GOOD Music label, saying "That's a forever brotherhood, but business wise, I had to start getting a bigger cut! I worked my way out that deal." [58] Afterwards, West would appear on the program Drink Champs hosted by N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, where he would talk with them about different topics, one of them being John Legend and Big Sean leaving his label, where West would state "I already decided that when I die on my tombstone it's going to say, 'I deserve to be here because I signed Big Sean,'" as well as "The worst thing I've ever done was sign Big Sean." Before the episode, Big Sean said on Twitter "I just got asked to be on the next Drink Champs so I'm assuming Ye talkin' crazy." [59] and would also share a photo of him and West from after the interview, writing "Was just [with] this man, he ain't say none of that!" [60]

On October 24, 2022, it was revealed that Def Jam had officially parted ways with West and GOOD was no longer distributed by their label. [5] This comes as a response to West's recent controversies involving actions deemed as antisemitic and racist, though it was revealed that West was already released from Def Jam following the release of Donda as the album completed his album contract with the label.

On December 19, 2022, Pusha T announced that he was no longer on speaking terms with West and has stepped down from his post as President of GOOD Music and is officially off the imprint. [61] [62]

In 2023, a 2018 video of West publicly disavowing the company leaked online. In the video, West chastised his lack of control of the label during a phone call with former manager Scooter Braun, to where he said: "[I]t’s gon' be a get me out this motherfucking GOOD Music shit now. And Scooter, ain’t gon' be no 'I’m still putting my name on this shit.' I need to get rid of GOOD Music because I’m great. And guess what good is? The enemy of great." [63]

Artists

Current acts

ActYear
signed		Releases
under the label
070 Shake 20163
Sheck Wes [64] 20181

Former acts

ActYears on
the label		Releases
under the label
Kanye West Founder4
GLC [65] 2004–2006—
Tony Williams [66] [67] 2004–20101
Common [68] 2004–20103
Consequence [69] 2004–20111
John Legend [50] 2004–20166
Sa-Ra [70] 2005–2007—
Malik Yusef [49] 2005–20161
Big Sean [71] 2007–20217
Kid Cudi 2008–20133
Mr Hudson [49] 2009–20161
Mos Def [49] 2010–2016—
Pusha T [72] 2010–20226
D'banj [49] 2011–2016—
Q-Tip 2012—
WZRD 2012–20131
Teyana Taylor 2012–20203
Kacy Hill 2014–20192
HXLT2015–20191
Desiigner 2016–20192
Twenty88 2016–20211
Tyga 2017—
Valee 2018–20192
Kids See Ghosts 2018–20221

Very Good Beats

G.O.O.D. Music also has a production wing known as Very Good Beats; this serves as a group of in-house producers.

Current producers

Former producers

Discography

Studio albums

ArtistAlbumDetails
John Legend Get Lifted
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: December 28, 2004
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Common Be
(released with Geffen)
  • Released: May 24, 2005
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
John Legend Once Again
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: October 24, 2006
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Consequence Don't Quit Your Day Job!
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: March 6, 2007
  • Chart position: #113 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Common Finding Forever
(released with Geffen)
  • Released: July 31, 2007
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
John Legend Evolver
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: October 28, 2008
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Common Universal Mind Control
(released with Geffen)
  • Released: December 9, 2008
  • Chart position: #12 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day
(released with Universal Motown)
  • Released: September 15, 2009
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Mr Hudson Straight No Chaser
(released with Mercury)
  • Released: October 19, 2009
  • Chart position: #25 UK
  • RIAA certification: —
John Legend and The Roots Wake Up!
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: September 21, 2010
  • Chart position: #8 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kid Cudi Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
(released with Universal Motown)
  • Released: November 9, 2010
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Big Sean Finally Famous
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 28, 2011
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
WZRD WZRD
(released with Republic)
  • Released: February 28, 2012
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
GOOD Music Cruel Summer
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: September 12, 2012
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum [89]
Kid Cudi Indicud
(released with Republic)
  • Released: April 16, 2013
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Big Sean Hall of Fame
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: August 27, 2013
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
John Legend Love in the Future
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: September 3, 2013
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Pusha T My Name Is My Name
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: October 8, 2013
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Teyana Taylor VII
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: November 4, 2014
  • Chart position: #19 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Big Sean Dark Sky Paradise
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: February 24, 2015
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Pusha T King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: December 18, 2015
  • Chart position: #20 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kanye West The Life of Pablo
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: February 13, 2016
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
HXLTHXLT
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: February 26, 2016
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Twenty88 Twenty88
(released with ARTium and Def Jam)
  • Released: April 1, 2016
  • Chart position: #5 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
John Legend Darkness and Light
(released with Columbia)
  • Released: December 2, 2016
  • Chart position: #14 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Big Sean I Decided
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: February 3, 2017
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Kacy Hill Like a Woman
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 30, 2017
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Big Sean and Metro Boomin Double or Nothing
(released with Republic and Def Jam)
  • Released: December 8, 2017
  • Chart position: #6 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Pusha T Daytona
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: May 25, 2018
  • Chart position: #3 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kanye West Ye
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 1, 2018
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Kids See Ghosts Kids See Ghosts
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 8, 2018
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
Teyana Taylor K.T.S.E.
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 23, 2018
  • Chart position: #17 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Sheck Wes Mudboy
(released with Cactus Jack and Interscope)
  • Released: October 5, 2018
  • Chart position: #17 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kanye West Jesus Is King
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: October 25, 2019
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
070 Shake Modus Vivendi
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: January 17, 2020
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Teyana Taylor The Album
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 19, 2020
  • Chart Position: #8 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Big Sean Detroit 2
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: September 4, 2020
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kanye West Donda
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released : August 29, 2021
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Platinum
Pusha T It's Almost Dry
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released : April 22, 2022
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
070 Shake You Can't Kill Me
(released with Def Jam)
  • Released: June 3, 2022 [90]
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —

EPs

ArtistAlbumDetails
Pusha T Fear of God II: Let Us Pray
  • Released: November 8, 2011
  • Chart position: #66 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —
Kacy Hill Bloo
  • Released: October 9, 2015
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Valee Good Job, You Found Me
  • Released: March 2, 2018
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
070 Shake Glitter
  • Released: March 23, 2018
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Desiigner L.O.D.
  • Released: May 4, 2018
  • Chart position: #161 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —

Mixtapes

ArtistAlbumDetails
Malik Yusef G.O.O.D. Morning, G.O.O.D. Night
  • Released: June 2, 2009
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Tony Williams Finding Dakota Grey
  • Released: March 2, 2010
  • Chart position: —
  • RIAA certification: —
Desiigner New English
  • Released: June 26, 2016
  • Chart position: #22 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: —

Personnel

Presidents

NameYearsReference
John Monopoly2004–2007 [91]
No I.D. 2008–2011 [92]
Che Pope 2012–2015 [93]
Pusha T 2015–2022 [4]

COOs

NameYearsReference
Steven Victor 2015–2019 [94]

Operations

GOOD Music and its associated logo are trademarks of Mascotte Holdings; West's holding company founded in 2004. [95]

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My Name Is My Name is the debut studio album by American rapper Pusha T. It was released on October 7, 2013, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. While leading up to the album's announcement, Pusha T released the mixtape Fear of God and the EP Fear of God II: Let Us Pray during 2011, along with collaborating on the GOOD Music's compilation album Cruel Summer. In 2013, he also released another mixtape Wrath of Caine. The album's production was handled primarily by Kanye West, along with several producers, including Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, Hudson Mohawke, Sebastian Sartor, Don Cannon, Swizz Beatz, Rico Beats, Mano and Nottz. It also features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Future, Pharrell Williams, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar, among others.

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Danielle Balbuena, better known by her stage name 070 Shake, is an American rapper and singer. She is best known for her guest appearance on English singer Raye's 2022 single "Escapism," which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked atop the UK Singles Chart, and won Song of the Year at the 2024 Brit Awards.

"Freeee " is a song by American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed of the rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, from their eponymous debut album (2018). The song features a guest appearance from American musician Ty Dolla Sign. It is the sequel to West's song "Ghost Town" from his eighth studio album, Ye (2018). The former was produced by West and Kid Cudi, with co-production from Mike Dean, Jeff Bhasker, and BoogzDaBeast, while additional production was handled by Andrew Dawson, Andy C, and Russell "Love" Crews. Apart from BoogzDaBeast, the lead and co-producers wrote the song alongside Ty Dolla Sign and Corin Littler, who has the stage name of Mr. Chop and received songwriting credit due to his work being sampled.

"Feel the Love" is a song by the American hip hop duo Kids See Ghosts, composed by the rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, and released as the opening track on their first studio album], Kids See Ghosts (2018). The song includes a feature from GOOD Music president Pusha T. It was produced by West and co-produced by Mike Dean and Benny Blanco, with additional production by Plain Pat, Evan Mast, Justin Vernon, Francis and the Lights, Cashmere Cat and Noah Goldstein. Recording of the song was finished less than 10 hours before the album's release, with Pusha T's vocals being recorded during this time period. An industrial song, it features drums and synthesizers. It includes West scat singing in a manner that was compared to his performance on "Lift Yourself", while Pusha T raps the only verse and Kid Cudi sings a chorus about love.

"Guilt Trip" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, from his sixth studio album Yeezus (2013). It was produced by West, Mike Dean, S1, with an additional production credit for Travis Scott and Ackeejuice Rockers for the samples of "Chief Rocka" by Lords of the Underground and "Blocka" by Pusha T featuring Popcaan and Travis Scott. The song's lyrics deal with looking back at a failed relationship, similar to fellow Yeezus track "Blood on the Leaves". West provides his vocals through rapping and singing through an Auto-Tune processor, reminiscent of his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. The song includes vocals from rapper Kid Cudi, who later expressed negative opinions about his feature due to his vocals being recorded years prior.

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